PSTB Newsletter

A Message from Our Presidentby Lorraine PotockiPossibilities in Pastel X Show

The 10th Anniversary of our Possibilities in Pastel Show has proven to be another demonstration of the extraordinary beauty and versatility of this medium, and the talent of so many pastelists. Visitors to the reception and awards presentation on February 12 at Stirling Studios and Gallery in Dunedin were treated to 80 pastels from landscapes to seascapes, animals to abstract, still life to portraits, and much much more. And, what would our annual show be like without great food and beverage and the camaraderie of artists mixing and mingling with friends, family, and the public at large.

Our thanks to Cathy Devine, our Secretary, for again chairing this event. I know Cathy appreciated all of the volunteers who helped receive and hang the art as well as Marlie Faris, who once again arranged for volunteers to bring all the wonderful appetizers. Thank you to Kathy Detrano for working her magic to secure the sponsors for our awards. (continuted next page)

March 2016

Cathy Devine, Brooke Allison, and Lorraine Potocki

Lorraine Potocki Reading Judges Comments

Viewing the Art

Visitors to the Show

On to the awards!

Award of Excellence, Brooke Allison, “Dunedin Still Life”

Award of Distinction, Kathy Detrano, “Fleeting Light”

Pastel Society of America Award, Karen Baker, “Seascape #8”

Founders Award, Arlene Shoemaker, “A Sandy Path”

Award of Merit 1, Davia, “Beyond”

Award of Merit 2, Donna Tweedle, “All That Jazz”

Award of Merit 3, Melinda Hamsher, “Senia”

Award of Merit 4, Lorraine Potocki, “Blue in Green”

Award of Merit 5, Lynn H. Kopala, “The Once and Future Wild”

Honorable Mention 1, Cathy Devine, “Cirque Gypsy”

Honorable Mention 2, William Murrah, “As Good As It Gets”

Honorable Mention 3, Janice Shindle, “Serendipity”

Honorable Mention 4, Phoebe Chidester, “Rainy Day at Bayport”

Honorable Mention 5, Carol Holley, “Nurture”

Honorable Mention 6, Cathi Leverenz, “Afterglow”

Thanks to our judge, Debora Stewart, for the daunting job of choosing award winners from all of the amazing pastels. And, thank you to our Vice President, Barbara Lewis, for capturing some of the memorable moments that you see here.

Possibilities in Pastel X Show (Cont.)by Lorraine Potocki

Kathy Detrano, Cathy Devine, and Lorraine Potocki

Karen Baker

Brooke Allison Arlene Shoemaker and Cathy Devine

PSTB Member News

The Latest News from PSACongratulations to Eve Miller, a PSTBer, who just got her Signature membership! Hooray, Eve!

And for anyone who wants to give PSA Associate or Signature membership a try, you can go to http://pastelsocietyofamerica.org/index_membership.htm.

Here, too, are the submission dates to shoot for. Entire news, Smart Art, follows below that.

Application deadline: May 9, Jury date: May 16Application deadline: July 1, Jury date: July 18Application deadline: October 7, Jury date: October 17

Make Plans Now to Join April and May PSTB Events by Lynn KopalaSaturday, April 9, 2016: Paintout at the Florida Botanical Gardens/Heritage Village

Spring is here. When is there a better time to dust off those beautiful pinks, oranges and blues, and head outside for plein air painting? The Pastel Society of Tampa Bay’s April 9 meeting will be a Paintout at the Florida Botanical Gardens and the adjoining Heritage Village. Bring your pastels, supports, outdoor painting gear, water, sunscreen, lunch and snacks, and join your fellow pastel artists in capturing the light, color, and atmosphere of this inspiring urban oasis. We plan to gather at the Botanical Gardens’ central shelter, located next to the Wedding Garden, on Saturday, April 9, at 10 AM. Weather and energy permitting, we hope to paint until around 4 PM. Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. No entry fee and no fee for parking.

Saturday May 7, 2016: Final PSTB Meeting Before Summer Break

Before we take our summer break from formal meetings and events, PSTB will meet on Saturday, May 7, from 10 AM to noon, at The Cottage, Weaver Park, 1249 Bayshore Boulevard (Alternate 19), Dunedin. After a very brief business meeting, PSTB members will create or watch the creation of mini paintings using just two complementary colors. This will be followed by a discussion of the challenges and opportunities posed by this method. Refreshments will be served.

Why The Art Spirit is My Favorite Art Book by Kathy DetranoThe First Coast Pastel Society recently asked its members to bring their favorite art book to the next meeting. Being pretty sure I wasn’t going to make it to St. Augustine by Saturday, I sent in my thoughts. Why I selected ‘The Art Spirit’ by Robert Henri as my favorite book? When I first started painting in midlife, I took workshops at the nearby Somerset Art Association in Bedminster, NJ. With its proximity to NY I was fortunate to be able to study with wonderful PSA artists who lived nearby. One of those was the gentlest of souls, Frank Zuccarelli, a WWII vet, a PSA Hall of Fame Honoree, and a master pastelist. Frank was the first person to introduce me to watercolor under pastel to establish the large shapes, to hard pastel under soft to create harmony, to color thumbnails the size of a postcard, to learning 5 levels of value...to paint outside the rules, and to the book, “The Art Spirit”, by Robert Henri. Frank must have sensed my intense interest because he told me to read that book. And I still do. I can open it anywhere and find inspiration. It is the collected letters and lectures of an extraordinary artist and teacher. From the Introduction I quote, “Henri was an inspired teacher with an extraordinary gift for verbal communication, with the personality and prophetic fire that transformed pupils into idolators. ...Henri was not on the lookout for cultivation. Native talent, in whatever crude disguise it might appear, was what he sought. Let the untrained student be as naive, as profoundly illiterate, as filled with aesthetic misconceptions as possible, Henri disregarded the outward dress and pointed lack of polish. He looked to the [artist’s] potentialities, which he attempted to develop without regard to himself in time and energy...” And from the first page of the book itself, in Henri’s own words, “...When the artist is alive in any person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature.....Museums of art will not make a country an art country. But where there is the art spirit there will be precious works to fill museums. Better still, there will be the happiness that is in the making.” And then this, “It is harder to see than it is to express. The whole value of art rests in the artist’s ability to see well into what is before him.” In the context of portraits, he then adds, “A sitter may not say a word for an hour, but the body has been speaking all the time.” I keep the book so handy that whenever I sit down to rest a bit, it is one of the ones I reach for and read a passage or two. It is the embodiment of the spirit of art.

PSTB News

Workshops - 2016/2017 Season by Kathy DetranoHi PSTBers and friends,We are happy to announce these workshops to PSTBers for the 2016/2017 season:1. BIG announcement for our PSTB workshop and show for February 2017! The President of PSA, Jimmy Wright, has agreed to teach a two day workshop, “Pushing the Boundaries of Pastel.” He will also be our show judge. Thank you, Jimmy. “A two day multilevel workshop combining the alchemy of layering pastel with the essentials of mark making while utilizing the skills of critical seeing. Exercises will emphasize figure/ground, composition, and color while exploiting materials and technique to push the traditional conventions of pastel. The course will include demonstrations, critiques, and discussions of contemporary and modern art masters including Edgar Degas, Victor Hugo, Paul Klee, Paula Rego, and Wolf Kahn.”Registration will be open to PSTBers exclusively until May 15, 2016. After that it opens to the ‘world.’ Tuition is $275 for DFAC members and $305 for non-members. A $100 deposit will hold your seat. Contact Sara DeLorenzo, 727-298-3322, to sign up. Since it is restricted, you will not see it online yet. Many of you may know of Jimmy’s recent beautiful work of sunflowers. The rhythm, movement, color harmony, and impact that he evokes simply from being inspired by some dried up flowers laying on a table is breathtaking. And then there are his self-portraits, et al. A wealth of experience to share with us. 2. This is not a PSTB-sponsored workshop but it is being set up and run by our member, Barbara Archer-Baldwin, who would like to give PSTBers first crack at a spot. Stan Sperlak is coming to North Port, Florida, Dec. 9-11, 2016 at the North Port Art Center (An hour or two south of here, near Venice, depending upon where you live). Stan is best known for painting the mystical effects of light over landscapes and seascapes. Our member, Barbara Archer-Baldwin is arranging it and is the contact for the workshop. Please email Barbara at VeniceBarb@gmail.com.

3. There is still room in the Albert Handell workshop in Galesville, MD, for May 2-5, 2016. Workshop information follows:Five Day Indoor/Outdoor Painting Workshop Held at Rick Casali Studio4726 Woodfield Rd.Galesville, MD 20765 Monday thru Friday, May 2-6, 2016Workshop Enrollment Limited – Tuition $695 The studio is located on beautiful grounds, in a picturesque industrial/port area, where subject matter abounds.Join Albert Handell in this exciting five day indoor/outdoor painting workshop.In the morning demonstration you will see and learn what to select and emphasize and what to play down or even take out of your paintings in order to make a strong design statement, and work sensibly towards finish. It will be an opportunity to see how a Master Artist works in a studio setting and on location.You can sign up at this time with a $100 non-refundable tuition deposit (or payment in full if you prefer) by contacting The Albert Handell studio/office. The preferred method of payment is with any credit card.To enroll, please call the office or email him directly:505-983-8373alberthandell@msn.comwww.alberthandell.comHappy painting, everyone, and happy dreaming of great workshops.

Board of Directors 2016President - Lorraine PotockiVice President - Barbara LewisSecretary - Cathy Devine Treasurer - Gail GambleAdvisor - Brooke Allison

Standing Committees2016 Annual Show Chair - Cathy DevineHospitality Chair - Marlie FarisCommunications Committee Chair - Kathy DetranoWorkshop Chair - Kathy Detrano

Newsletter TeamNews Receivers - Mickey Huffman and Judy MoaklerEditors - Susan Kiss and Lynn KopalaManaging Editor & Graphic Designer - Christine EckerfieldIf you would like to submit news for the next newsletter, please email Mickey Huffman at huffmanms@sbcglobal.net or Judy Moakler at moak67@yahoo.com.

“Pompeii #8, Red and Blue” by Jimmy Wright